Davis, Hindi face off in 38C delegate primary

Democratic primary voters in District 38C will choose from two newcomers to the political arena as they head to polls Tuesday.

Ocean Pines resident Mike Hindi and West Ocean City resident Judy Davis are competing for the chance to face Republican Mary Beth Carozza in this fall's election for the newly formed District 38C.

Hindi, a 2006 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School, was the first to file. The lifeguard for the Ocean Pines Association discovered he had a passion for politics after spending two years in South America and decided to run for the new seat so he could work for the area he calls home.

"I've lived here my whole life and I love it with all my heart," he said. "If I can make a career out of it, I'll do it."

Davis too has a deep-rooted love for the Shore. She moved to the area more than 40 years ago to attend college in Salisbury and never left.

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(Photo: Staff photo by Todd Dudek)

"I fell in love with the people and the environment," she said.

Davis, a special education teacher, has campaigned on the need for more permanent jobs in the area, maintaining high educational standards and the need to restore the quality of area waterways.

"I'm not a career politician," she said. "I'm running on my life experience as a teacher, mother, volunteer and business owner."

She's concerned for those who have trouble finding work during the resort area's off-season as well as with making sure there are jobs for local students once they graduate from college.

"We need to bring more full-time, permanent employment to the area and to allow young adults to remain in our area," she said.

Hindi has also pushed the need for job creation outside the agricultural and tourism industries.

"Outside of those sectors we don't have a lot to offer," he said.

Another issue Hindi often mentions is his desire to see changes in the way the area deals with its drug problems. He says the area needs the infrastructure to deal with drug offenders and additional counseling to help reform those who are fighting addiction.

"We need additional funding for police so they have the tools they need to combat serious drugs," he said.